Radiation readings spiking to record levels all around Fukushima plant

Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 24, 2013: Highest radiation level detected in water found in drainage ditch at Fukushima nuclear plant […] The utility announced Oct. 24 that it had detected radioactive strontium and other beta ray emitting substances measuring 140,000 becquerels per liter in water sampled in one of the facility’s drainage ditches. […] TEPCO officials said the high radiation level was detected in water collected on Oct. 23. The levels in water taken on Oct. 22 were 59,000 becquerels per liter.

Businessweek, Oct. 23, 2013: Tepco Says Rains Causing Spikes in Fukushima Radiation Readings […] Water samples from another ditch had readings of 15,000 becquerels of beta radiation, again higher than the record 2,200 becquerels in an Oct. 1 sample from the same site, Tepco said. Beta radiation includes strontium-90 linked to causing cancers such as leukemia.

Bloomberg, Oct. 23, 2013: Tepco said in a separate release that beta radiation levels of 510,000 becquerels per liter were found Oct. 20 in a sample of rainwater that had accumulated between a storage tank and a cement barrier built to contain leaks. That compares to 450,000 becquerels on Oct. 19 and 360,000 becquerels on Oct. 18, the company said. The Oct. 20 sample was the highest taken so far from within the barrier, the Sankei newspaper reported.

Xinhua, Oct. 22, 2013: Radioactive cesium levels spike in ocean near Fukushima […] (TEPCO) said that trace amounts of radioactive cesium-137 were detected at a level of 1.6 becquerels per liter [1,600 becquerels per m³] in water samples taken from the adjacent Pacific Ocean, marking the second time such radioactive materials have been found in the sea since surveys began in August. The previous radioactive finding in October measured lower […]

96 comments to Radiation readings spiking to record levels all around Fukushima plant

How about a map showing sampling locations? How were samples collected? How were they analyzed? What components were tested for? Was there plutonium for example in the sample? How about sample readings in water, milk, rainfall along the west coast of the US – and inland?

I can see Tepco abandoning the site soon, especially if the levels continue to rise like they are. They will indicate that the site is too dangerous for humans (which it is) and pull out, leaving it to crumble and spew radiation into the environment.

That's a non starter, the world is not going to simply lie down for this; affected nations are pissed. If Japan throws in the towel major players will step in, under threat of war if necessary. A nation that's not bound by some antiquated liability law.

Nuclear may spell the end of capitalism a la Chernobyl and the FORMER Soviet Union.

traditional use of the main stream media will not work with the core issues involved here. Nuclear engineers, scientists, theorists, and the lot find these issues to be too complicated to tackle, let alone social and political activists.

Our system is broken, and energy issues are at the center of the problem; lobbyist's have purchased the government of the people.

People would probably care if they really believed they or their relatives were in imminent threat of death. The "too late" scenario. We may have that anyway.

Ideally, it would take mass teach-ins (or some equivalent) about radiation. But that's up against 70 years of disinformation and lies, corrupted international organizations, and the MSM.

Education did work for the Vietnam War, but then there was overt violence and body bags and with huge grassroots resistance against the draft. Because you could SEE the deaths. Bang-bang you're dead.

This is outlandishly more pervasive and sinister and not-remediable. And with the humongous challenges of lethal radiation levels now being called "safe," and of linking up deaths in the U.S. (or anywhere) with a place thousands of miles away, some new better masterplan is desperately needed. But what?

The first test may not be racial or ethnic at all, but instead what national government or geographic group in the western Pacific islands, or Hawaii, or even on the left coast, will stand up to fight localized radiation illness or death, where recently revealed aquatic and atmospheric rotating 'concentration patterns' (as opposed to the specious dilution solution analysis) may cause such unnaturally localized human, animal and sea life illness and death in one or more island or coastal locales, as to be totally undeniable.

Localized and already occurring illnesses and death in salmon, starfish, seal pup and other species, may be the initial manifestation of the appearance of such localized pathology, and a prelude to human illnesses or death in similar localized, regional cohorts.

Localized pathology of the worst degree won't elicit straightforward coverage by the corporate press, who will probably be instead urging mass vaccination, as did the u.s. government and media after WWI in order to profit from unused vaccines.

Yes, you did. The Earth does not consist of just humans.
The circle of life for all creatures will be broken by Fukushima.
Creatures large and small have no way to express their outrage.
They can only go quietly into the past.
I wish to express my outrage on their behalf… 😐

@MichaelV
>>>If Japan throws in the towel major players will step in, under threat of war if necessary.<<<

One major global player, until recently *the* major player, even the player with the longest experience with all kinds of nuclear "applications", already stepped in a whole average human lifespan ago. Afterwards they forgot to step out – so, no need for stepping in.

My problem has been that when they DO know, they know the censored version… 'yeah, they're gonna stop it with this ice wall right ?' 'I heard it's coming to west coast but it's going to be so diluted by then no?'

West. And yes, I am serious, they are pissed off about it and worried. You can see it in their eyes. And believe me, you could have knocked me over in surprise. I have felt like the freak who was worried while everyone else turned the channel. Time is changing it seems to me.

The United States won't acknowledge the CORE ISSUES until it's own nuclear industry is completely dismantled. Price-Anderson must be repealed.

Katrina, Sandy, Colorado, California fires/earthquakes. This is the new revolution of thought; this revolution won't be televised.

If you're waiting for the MSM to pick up the whole truth of these issues it's not going to happen. You have to pick up the message and carry it to thd front line of the main battle area, which is the people in your daily sphere of activities.

The radiation is leaching out of soil surrounding plant, in my opinion the contamination is from the inisual explosions, when cores and SFP were scattered around facility and then in a hurry they buried with no containment or boron?
In tepco opinion the corium is still in basement, they have raised the level of ground water, so the level outside the buildings are higher than in basement, therefore no or little contamination is escaping into environment?
If so then spike is not from reactor buildings? Not that I completely agree.

Interesting theory, why would you collapse nuclear plant into ocean?, simple it would buy you more time, but the same outcome in long run, extermination?
The atmosphere is much easier to contaminate to a level detrimental to life than ocean and since water shields radiation entering atmosphere to a great degree, this would be at the expense of the oceans of the world, sooner or later you will be radiated, one way or another?
Not for us minions?

My hunch is that something new is melting down, and producing these massive levels of radiation across the United States. They are not normal, and I hope that everyone takes protective measures. Please keep your kids out of the rain.

NoNukes, have wondered same. Iodine 131 detected in Korea since August, something appears to be fissioning off. NETC shows elevated radiation levels (2-3 times previous levels) across much of the U.S. West Coast for the past couple of weeks.

Looking at the black cat site right now, one that has always cast shadows of doubt, just as the new netc site does, one can see that the readings in Hawaii are pretty hot now compared to the normal lower averages. Something wicked must be hitting the island chain at this time.

As we know, running reactors are producing Pu from U-238 via neutron capture. To get weapon-grade Pu (-239) you have to change the fuel rods after a short time, otherwise you'll get Pu-240, Pu-241 … and higher actinoids. These actinoids have lower critical masses, so in my opinion the older the corium the higher the fisson rate, until it's gonna wild!

As I say, just a (science based) guess.

<sarc>
Good news for intergalactic capitalists:
Some years ago, you will find a lot of Roentgenium (element 111, next stage of {copper, silver, gold}) and no life on earth.
</sarc>

NoNukes, sorry, I can't interpret what the levels were from your post. Where is the CPM count in the data you posted? I'm unable to interpret the post. Thought CPM counts in my area (near Sacramento) were hovering in the 230-275 CPM count range yesterday.

The CPM or Counts Per Minute are the numbers right after the location on the netc.com alerts, so for Sacramento, this Alert is 356 CPM. I'm sorry. October has been nasty for California. The EPA traditionally reports low radiation levels for San Francisco but this month they have taken it offline.

I believe there are high levels of Iodine 131, so I hope that people consider using Lugols, or other forms of iodine, to offer their thyroids some protection. I don't believe that we can do anything in the U.S. to completely protect our families, but we can lessen the blow a bit by keeping them out of the rain, etc. I highly recommend reading the thread on Enenews "FORUM: Methods for Combatting Radiation and its effects." http://enenews.com/forum-best-practices-combating-effects-radiation

Ditto Phoenix. Bakersfield, CA, had gross beta counts like that on October 31. Can't remember if it was 2011 or 2012. Think it was 2011. It looked at the time like RadNet fudged the data for some areas. The results were flatlined, which could indicate equipment failure or "fudging" the data. When you look at RadNet, you'll see the data just isn't there for some time periods.

During October 2011, RadNet published data for multiple cities with exactly the same graphs. There were two locations (San Francisco and Los Angeles?) which were identical. Posted about this when it occurred, so the comment is likely archived somewhere.

Watching this closely & trying to do outdoor activities where exertion is required on days when rad levels are lower — which has been basically at NO TIME during the past two weeks.

I have noted a increase in Cpm on my mazur prm 8000 this month to in Toronto, although it has only climbed from average of 13 Cpm to 20Cpm, I to believe that on going criticality is occurring.
Not a good sign in my humble opinion, but what do I know, as much as tepco that all I know.
Are the states that are reporting high levels near to areas were atomic test were conducted,
The max count I have on my unit is 35 Cpm and that was on oct 17 2013, I know not all detectors are the same and mine is not pancake?
If anybody has a explanation please advise?

Check out Michael Collins on hour 3 of the jeff rense show, October 21st just past. Rense is terrible on some other things, but he's good on radiation. Collins gives a lot of shocking recent cpm readings in U.S. cities — like 750 in Amarillo, Texas for example, and big spikes in California cities. Just in the last couple of weeks.

NoNukes, TY for info. We don't hear much on the Common soent fuel pool or 5 & 6, all 3 are a huge danger, but what is going on at 5 & 6 scares the heck out me because the lack of info, they had problems just as the others with loss of power & cooling, just wounder if water is coming from them also? Would make you wounder! But 4 is so close to the COMMON Spent Fuel Pool which holds huge amounts of SFuel Rods, if 4 blows the Common Pool would do what? I hate to think. But as eacch passes the news is worse & the world should say enough is enough I say!

Thanks, wetpwcas1. I wonder about the common spent fuel pool, and reactors 5 & 6, too. Watching the webcam, lately I have thought of the common spent fuel pool as "Lil' Smoky," which just shows how much damage Tepco has done to my brain. I am not the only one who sees nastiness there (but not just there):

In my mind, there was an awful event around Aug 20 (which hasn't stopped), and then more of the worst case scenario around Oct. 6-7, and the people of the United States have been and are are inhaling the results

Fascinating read, a real insight, although tepco disputes SFP four was dry, I can not say the same, we're was the steam if water was in pool and why did the dose rate not line up with what tepco was saying, that there was at least two feet of water covering spent fuel?
Excellent work, my hat is off to you.

RE: super typhoons, late typhoon season in Japan this year, possibility of the Fujiwara effect if typhoons combine and pass over Japan. (Francico was supposed to pass over on Thursday through Saturday.) Apparently, there will be heavy rains, and the brunt of the storm is projected to pass over Izu Oshima island, near Tokyo. Heavy rain forecasted for Saturday, local time.

Eric Schlosser has written a book called Command and Control, about all the near misses and accidents surrounding US military handling its nuclear weapons. You can listen to him interviewed by CBC herehttp://www.cbc.ca/onthecoast/ You need to click on On the coast show for October 23 and interview starts at 2:06:06 for anyone interested. Lots of nuclear safety issues in US. We focus on NPP but Military is far more secretive.

harengus_acidophilus. I think they miscalculated that one. Now we can use military technology to pool intellectual talent and information that may well have the capacity to challenge and change existing paradigms.

28 Signs That The West Coast Is Being Absolutely Fried With Nuclear Radiation From Fukushima
October 21st, 2013 The Truth
3. Along the Pacific coast of Canada and the Alaska coastline, the population of sockeye salmon is at a historic low. Many are blaming Fukushima.
5. A vast field of radioactive debris from Fukushima that is approximately the size of California has crossed the Pacific Ocean and is starting to collide with the west coast.
8. One test in California found that 15 out of 15 bluefin tuna were contaminated with radiation from Fukushima.http://thetruthwins.com/archives/28-signs-that-the-west-coast-is-being-absolutely-fried-with-nuclear-radiation-from-fukushima

This is a great article. I've been working on my own animal collapse list and it is very disturbing.

Many species were in collapse before Fukushima.

The disaster has clearly accelerated the collapse of Alaskan King Salmon, Polar Bears, seals, and walruses; west coast Monarch Butterflies; California Bees and Sea Lions; and Arizona bats and selective insects (the last based on my observations).

Fukushima fallout was also correlated with a spike in cases of hypothyroidism in CA infants born approx 10 months after disaster.

Although no one has studied the link to Fukushima, there was a big spike in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in British Columbia reported on NPR in the spring of 2012. The sudden spike was being blamed on parents suddenly laying their infants on the stomachs, although there was no proof that was the cause. I've not listened to NPR since.

The fallout is here in North America and it may be worse than in western Japan (unless toxic waste is being incinerated nearby).

Of course, the biggest outrage of all is that people around Fukushima and in parts of highly-contaminated Tokyo will experience suffering, reproductive problems and premature death because the government and industry running Japan prioritize lucre over life itself.

TEPCO EMPLOYEES "GLOW" IN DARKENED BEDROOM. Wives of six TEPCO employees have reported that their husbands have been emitting low amounts of light while sleeping at night. Another wife in Ikake said her son charged his I-Pod by placing the device under his father while he was sleeping. Wont be long before reports like these are come along, and have a factual basis, I'm afraid.

TEPCO is using the "rainwater' contamination/leaks to make the world FORGET the real problem,the various melted nuclear cores underground, and the fuel storage areas. Reactor 4 fuel pool and the Common Fuel Pool are all ticking time bombs. So while TEPCO
runs around with a teaspoon to capture drops of 'rainwater' to show the press,the corium(s) is contaminating the world…..

Episode of the Doctor's where Fukushima contamination is discussed, not as seriously as it should be, but expect more half-assed attempts by the mainstream to clue the american public in to what's coming…because when the tsunami debris field and radioactive water hits, it's going to be EPIC.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UzCGCivgCs

Interestingly enough, the NRC FOIA documents tell a different story than mainstream and much of alternative media…that includes your favorite 'anti-nuke' figureheads…you know who they are…they all get PAID….

Japan for years had a very good nuclear industrial base and research program…. The walls have collapsed with lost intergrity on 3 and 4 spent fuel…. Unless a crust had built up, the plan was to drop sand to shield, or to drop water to cool…. Quenching a catastrophe…. Dry fuel…. Fear of turning site into a swamp….. Trying to figure it out before letting people know…..

The documents reveal that these guys wanted to get their stories straight so that they can dodge financial liability and avoid causing loss to the "Nuclear Village" – founded on the infallibility of a foolish way to boil water (Einstein). Panic is one thing; public health another!

To be in error about SFP 3 and 4 would be quite an error since they acted on that assumption. These "mistaken" experts hold our fates in their hands as the dropped water boron, sand, the kitchen sink, whatever. Nothing this dangerous should ever have been created. What a huge mistake! Humanity will pay forever – should it even last through the coming decades with contaminated atmosphere and oceans.

The rest of the countries will remain silent because they have NPPs…. Our populations grew faster than development of alternative energy. Too many people using too much energy. And they call this "progress." Money was spent on the wrong energy paradigms.

its true civilization outgrew wood as fuel, but wind and passive solar was around for a long time. Nuclear was never required. The dept of defense uses 12,600,000 US gallons (48,000,000 L) of fuel per day, more than the country of Sweden. Its not the public so much as what the public is given to work with.

The alure of energy "too cheap to meter" ignores the fact that the potential damages are too much to pay. Yet, they wanted limited legal liability back in 1957. They knew what could happen They knowingly and voluntarily assumed that risk They figured they would roll the dice since they were too big to fail. Limited tort liability lets them get away with having no skin in the game. The more reckless, the more money….

If the operator had full legal liability, they would not have built let alone continued to operate those or any such "plants."

Hatrick Penry-the thank you sentiment is shared by many if not most here both for the content and the sheer amount of work it must have taken research and to write these articles.

The narrative of the 311 events, the corporate and government contribution to the precursors which made such events possible, and the knowledge of the ongoing collusion to suppress the facts is spreading (albeit slowly) through the consciousness of the populace in many nations.

The Japanese government, other nuclear capable nations, along with strong international corporate interests do not appear to have the motivation or interest in attempting to address the two goals of mitigating the ongoing nuclear accidents in Japan and an outright ban of a technology which exceeds man’s capacity to control, store its waste byproducts, or meaningfully regulate.

You have had some time to analyze and contemplate the NRC FOIA and other organizational communications, and have drawn some poignant conclusions.

Based on your understanding of the facts and reflections on the narrative of this story, what should the readers of your articles take away as the next steps for them to personally make some contribution to the realization of the aforementioned goals?

Pumping out to tankerships ahead of the storm. Probably too late for that. Where could they put all that radioactive water, indeed! They have been known to give baseless reassurances. That comforts people so they don't worry….. People are going to stop accepting mere assurances. I'd like to see whether the NRC – as reflected in the emails – knew what they were talking about when they said that SFP 4 went dry and large amounts of fuel burned into the atmosphere. That is bigger than dumping all that water into the sea, bad as that is.

If spent and fresh fuel burned in SFP 3 and 4, and we breathed that in a plume in March 2011, I would expect some mortality and morbidity from lung cancer to begin showing up in North America. Strontium 90 worries me in the stored water…..And don't forget about the melted cores…..Gundersen measured hot particles over here.

It is difficult to comprehend what must be going on in the Human Resources department at Fukushima. Why are they doing this to themselves?

Radiation levels are clearly past the point where any sane person would want to be within an hour's drive of the place, yet they continue putting people into harm's way doing goodness knows what to make (it seems) very little useful progress towards reducing the radiation hazard to the world posed by the wrecked plant.

Every known environmental limit for workers must be exceeded on the site, but some prat is still sending men in nice white overalls to play with the fire from hell while dodging lethal hot-spots all over the place.

Although a number of relatives and acquaintances of mine are very aware of the Fuku horrors, there are still too many who shrug their shoulders at the whole affair. They are vaguely aware of serious damage done to a Japanese nuclear plant in the misty past, "but haven't they fixed the problem by now, and anyway what am I supposed to do about it?"

I mentioned to my son today that anyone looking to cash in on this tragedy should start placing bets on the chances that the 2020 Olympics will be pulled from Tokyo. People simply cannot believe that the damage is so immense that it can't be "fixed" over the next seven years. (Hey, they "fixed" Chernobyl—NOT! And this makes Chernobyl look like a garden party…)

..and they know darn well that if they gave rad meters to every worker and told them to walk backwards away from the site evacuating people as they went until the counters showed safe levels, then that would be the end of Japan.

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